Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011

74 Relevant person’s duty to attend children’s hearing

(1) This section applies where by virtue of this Act a children’s hearing is, or is to be, arranged in relation to a child.

(2) Each relevant person in relation to the child who is notified of the children’s hearing by virtue of rules under section 177 must attend the children’s hearing unless the relevant person is—

(a) excused under subsection (3) or rules under section 177, or

(b) excluded from the children’s hearing under section 76(2).

(3) A children’s hearing may excuse a relevant person from attending all or part of the children’s hearing if the children’s hearing is satisfied that—

(a) it would be unreasonable to require the relevant person’s attendance at the hearing or that part of the hearing, or

(b) the attendance of the relevant person at the hearing, or that part of the hearing, is unnecessary for the proper consideration of the matter before the hearing.

(4) A relevant person who is required to attend a children’s hearing under subsection (2) and fails to do so commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.